Signal device



Ma s, 1928; 1,669,055

I F. HOGG SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Aug. 2. 1926 2 Sheets- S heet 2 Inve'n l r fiancz's Aggy F? M/ Wq This sleeve is provided with an eye 1 8, to

I Patented May ,8,

PATIENT orries. 4

'rnnNcrs nose, or rrrrsnvnen, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

, I I Application filed August 2,

This invention relates to signaling devices anil more particularly to marine danger signa. 5.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of new and improved danger signal mechanism that isadapted to beautomatically operated.

J Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved power generating mechanism that is adapted to be automatically operated by the movement ofthe supporting medium'.

A still further object of the invention is .theprovision of a new and improved signal buoy that when in use is adapted toemitcontinuously intermittent sight or. sound signals, or both, the mechanism being oper-' ated by the movement. of the water.

Another object of the invention is the'pi'ovision of a new and improved signal device that is simple in construction, eflicient in operation, cheap to manufacture, easily assembled, and that is not likely to become' broken or out of order.

Other and further objects and advantages Y of the invention will appear trom the following description taken in connection with the 'accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of'a buoy with the'invention in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the buoy with single mechanism therein.

Fig. 3 is a wiringdiagram of the signaling device. Fig. 4 is side elevation of a modified form of the device with parts in section and parts broken away.

Referring now similar reference characters designate the same part throughout the specification, thenumeral 10' designates a buoy anchored in the water 11 by thecable 12 as is usual in such constructions. The buoycomprises the casing 13 onthc upper end of the cylindrical portion of which the signal mechanism 14 is mounted. The lower end-of the buoy is provided with an axial projection in the formof a journal 16 on which is rotatably mounted a sleeve 17.

which is connected the upper end oi -the anchor cable 12. V

The casing 10 is provided with a plurality to the drawings-on which 1926. Serial No. 126,380.

of vanes or fins19, arranged spirally about the exteriorof said casing whereby the movement of the water or other supporting element past the ibuoy will cause-the same to rotate for operating the mechanism contained therein, as will presently appear.

In floating signals for indicatin vessels, concealed-rocks and the llke, it. is desirable that signals be employed that will indicate their location in all kinds of weather and at'night as well asin, the day time. Light signals alone are unreliable in foggy weather and likewise sound signals alone cannot berelied on in adverse winds.

In the use of visible signals, better resunken either by varying the'*- order of the flashes or by the use of difterent colored lights flashed in a predetermined order.

It is. also desirable that where sound sig-v nals be employed the same be operated intermittently for similar reasons. In both cases less energy is required tooperate the signals intermittently than to maintain continuous signals.

The present invention contemplates the use of both visible and audible signals, altho it is understood that either may be, employed without the other. It is desirable, how-' ever, that both be employed in order that I each. may supplement the other.

In the form of the devicedisclosed in Figs. 1 to 3, a housing 21 comprising the two sections 22 and 23 is secured in an axial opening in the closure 24 as by means of the flanges 25 and 26 on the sections 22 and 23 and the belts or rivets 27. The section 22 is provided with an axial extension 28 of suitable length for supporting the signal devices. A transparent cup-shaped enclosure 29 is secured on the lateral y extending flange 31 of theupper end of the extension 28 in which is mount d the optical signals a comprising the electric light bulbs 32. An

electric horn 33 extends thru the flange 31.

The horn is directed downwardly in order that any water entering thesame may run out and not interfere with the operating mechanism.

Suitable means are provided for operating the signal devices. In the form shown g'izing and controlling the signals.

to illustrate one embodiment of the invention, a generator 34, storage battery 353ml.

switch mechanism 36, are employed for ener- The partsare so arranged'that the rotation of the casing 13 by the waves or tides, or both,

will operate the generator.

A receptacle 37 thru which extends a t1i-" bular member or journal 38 is mounted within the housing 21. The receptacle 37 is preferably cylindrical and the tubular journal 38 "extends axially thru the same and has its ends extending above and below the said receptacle.

The lower section 23 of thchousing' 2l is provided with downwardly extending sleeve bearing 39 thru which the-tubular journal 38 extends.

The upper end of the sleeve bearing 39 is provided with an enlargement 41. for receiving thrustbearings 42 carried by said journal 38 and sleeve 39.

The lower portion of the section 23 of j the housing 21 is provided with a depression 43 across which the bearing plate 441 ,ing insupporting the housin 21.

is; secured. The ,bearing plate '44 is provided with a depression 45 across which extends aflanged portion of a spacer 46. The

spacer 46 is preferably secured to the receptacle and keyed to the tubular journal Antifriction bearings '47 mounted in the depression are employed for assist- A suitable generator 34 0 any approved 1 construction is secured on the lower project;

I 'thejournal 38.

ing end 48 of the'tubular journal 38, in

any suitable manner, as .by means of clamp 48 rigidly secured to said generator. Suitable antifriction bearings 51 are interposed between the lower end of the sleeve 39 and The sleeve 39 is provided with gear 52,

which is in mesh with pinion 53 onthe ar- -matur e shaft 54 otthe genera'tor34.

In the use of the devicethe buoy is anchored in the usual manner and the inovewhich is rigidly attached thereto.

ment of the water, such as waves or tides passing the buoy will cause the same to r o tateilthereby rotating the gear 52.

e tubular member 38 will beheld from rotating by the weight of the generator Since then the. control mechanism 36, the battery 35 w 1ll. assist inholding tliepnember 38 I from rotating s nce the receptacle 37-is rigid- 1y mounted on said member. The rotation of t e gear-52 will operate tnegenerator thru the lights and horn, returning; thru conthe inion 5.3 to generate electricity in the nsua manner,

3 The leads 55 and 56 from the generator are carried upwardthru the stationarytubuar-journal 38, thru suitable opening in said journal to the terminals '57,and 58 of the battery.

The upper end of thet-ubnlar member 38 is providedovith collecting rings 59 and 61, which are adapted to be engaged by'suit+ able brushes 62 and 63, carried by thehousing'21.

Conductors 64 and 65. are rovided for connecting the brushes 62 an 63, respectively, with the electric light bulbs 32 andthe horn 33. The bulbs and horn preferably being connected in multiple, as shown clearly in Fig. 3.

If it is desired that the signal devices operate continuously, the terminals 57 and 58 of the battery are connected to the col lecting rings 59 and 61. It is desirable, however, to provide means for intermittently energizing the light and audible signals; Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. r

One form of mechanism fof accomplishing this function is shown more or less diagrammaticallyin Fig. 3 in which a make and break device or switch 66 is shown; In this diagrammatic showingflt isunderstood that the usual cutout or automatic switch devices will be supplied by those skilled in the art. Since the specific details of the wiring mechanism constitute no part ofthe present invention it is not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe the same. The switch comprisesan arm 67 pivoted as 2.1168, and having one end adapted to close the circuit and its other end provided with means for engaging the cam wheel or roller 69. Preferably the lower end of the arm 67 is provided with theroller bearing 71 for engaging the periphery of the cam wheel 69.- The cam wheel 69 is provided with one 0 or more projections 72 which'may'be'arr ranged on the periphery of the wheel 69' in. any suitable manner, 'to give an desired combination of signals. The whee ,69'is r0 tated thru a. series of reducing gears 73 from a motor 74 which is operated from battery 1 35 in theusualnianner. a v v The currents for operating the motor 74.- and the switch device 66' may be traced as follows: The current for operating theinotor 74 passes upwardly from the positive terminal 57 of the battery, thru the conductor 76, thru the, field of the motor and from thence to the g'round 77 and 78 back to the negativeterminal 58 of the battery. 7 7 The current for operating the signals, passes from the positive terminal of the batte'rg thru the conductor 79 to the ring 61 1' an from thencethru the conductor, to

izo

depending on the position of the projection 72, for energizing the twosignals. While the signals are both shown as being in the same circuit, it is obvious that they may be placed in separate circuits and operate by independent switches.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of the i device in which the armature shaft84 of he generator 85 is'rigidly mounted on the casing '86 of the buoy and rotates therewith. The upper end of t e armature shaft 84 is adapted to engage a recess in a closure 80,

. secured in the top of the casing 86.

The field 87 carried by the casin 88 is rotatably mounted on the armature s aft 84 by suitable bearings 89. The bearings 89 i may be the usual ball bearing type with the co-operating races in the shaft and casing" 88, whereby longitudinal movement of the casing along the shaft is prevented. Storage batteries 91 are attached to the casing and will prevent said casing from rotating when the buoy is rotating.

In this form of the device the electric signal 92 is operated continuously from storage battery 91 thru conductors 93 in the usual manner.

In this form of the device the light signal 92 is carried by a skeleton frame 94 and is continuously energized from the. batteries 91 thru the conductors 93. These extend upwardly-thru closure 80 and thru tube or closed passage 95 for rotecting the same.

a If desired, the audi le signals may Roe-op erated by mechanical means As shown,

' preferably a pluralit of bells 96 are carried by the support 97 o the skeleton frame 94. A suitable clapper 98 carried'by a support 99 which is swivelled; in projection ""100 on the'closure 80, is adapted to strike the bells as the same'arerotatedwith the frame 94 duringthe rotation of the buo Inthe operation of the audible slgnal, the,

weight of the clapper'98 will cause the same to hang (pezgtlendlcularly in the ath of the bells, an strike the latter 5 uring their rotation.

While the invention is disclosed as being in the formof a signal device in which water for supporting said batter casing so that the weight o the same will tend to prevent rotation of said non-rotatelectrical energy generated is em 10 ed for signal purposes, it 'is understoo t at the energy generatedmay be used for other than signaling pur oses and that the supporting mediummay e other than water since the same principle may be employed in aero-' nauticsto indicate landing fields and the like;

is the supporting medium and in-which the X It is to be understood. that any combine-e7 tion of signals may be provided by changing the number or contour of the projections 72 on the cam 69. The form of the device shown in Fig. 1 will give two short signals comparatively close together with a rela tively long period of time before repeating the same. a

' I claim as my .invention- 1. In combination, a buoy comprising a casing, means for. anchoring said buoy, a signal device; means for causing said buoy electricity generating system, means for mounting said system within said casing whereby a portion of, the same will be held .by its own weight from rotating with said casing and the remaining portion. willrotate with. said casing for generating an electric. current for energizing said device.

2. In combination, a buoy comprising a casing, means for anchoringsaid buoy, a

' to rotate when water flows past the same, an

signal device, means for causing .said buoy to rotate when water flows past the same, mechanism within said casipg forgenerating andstoring electrical energy, means for mounting a portion of said mechanism so that it will be held by its own weight from rotating with said casing, and means for mounting another portion of said mechanism so that it will rotate with said casing for generating electrical energy for energizing said signal device.

3. In' comb nation, a buoy comprising a casing means for'anchoring said buoy, a

.sig'nal device, means on said leasing for causing it to rotate when water flows past the same, a generator having rotating and non-rotating parts, a .storage battery for receiving energy from said generator, means within said ing part and means for causing said rotat ing part to rotate with said casing for generatmg electricalenergy for storing the same in said battery for operating saidsigna-ldevice.. y y

. In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature.

; FRANCIS Hoes. 

